Planning the Audit; Linking Audit Procedures to Risk 1

Items Included in Engagement Letters Name of the entity Management responsibilities Financial statements Establishing effective internal control over financial reporting Compliance with laws and regulations Making records available to the auditors Providing written representations at end of the audit, including that adjustments discovered by the auditors and not recorded to the financials are not material Auditor responsibilities Conducting an audit in accordance with GAAS Obtaining an understanding of internal control to plan audit and to determine the nature, timing and extent of procedures Making communications required by GAAS 2 2

Engagement Letters--Optional Items Arrangements regarding Conduct of the audit (e.g., timing, client assistance) Use of specialists or internal auditors Obtaining information from predecessor auditors Fees and billing Other services to be provided, such as examination of internal control over financial reporting Limitation of or other arrangements regarding liability of auditors or client Conditions under which access to the auditors’ working papers may be granted to others 3

Audit Planning Decide whether to accept the prospective client Obtain knowledge of client’s business and environment Make preliminary arrangements with the client Prepare the audit plan, preliminary program, and time budget Prepare the engagement letter Assess risks of material misstatement, including fraud risk 3 4

Understanding the Client’s Business—Nature of the Client Competitive position Organizational structure Accounting policies and procedures Ownership Capital structure Product and service lines Critical business processes Internal control

Understanding the Client’s Business—Industry, Regulatory, and Other Factors Competitive environment Supplier and customer relationships Technology developments Major laws and regulations Economic conditions

Understanding the Client’s Business—Attractiveness of the Industry Barriers to entry Strength of competitors Bargaining power of suppliers of raw materials and labor Bargaining power of customers 5

Understanding the Client’s Business—Objectives, Strategies & Business Risks Objectives—Overall plans Operating and financial strategies—Operational actions to achieve objectives Business risks—Threats to achieving objectives

Understanding the Client’s Business--Basic Strategy Product differentiation Cost leadership 6

Understanding the Client’s Business—Measuring and Reviewing Performance Budgets Key performance indicators Segment performance reports Balanced scorecard External parties

Sources of Information Inquiries of management Industry Accounting and Auditing Guides Industry Risk Alerts Government publications Prior company annual reports and SEC filings Prior tax returns Electronic sources Tour of plant and offices Analytical procedures

Developing an Overall Audit Strategy Planning materiality Assessing inherent risks, including fraud risks Preliminary assessment of control risk

Assessing Fraud Risks Two types Procedures to assess fraud risks Fraudulent financial reporting (management fraud) Misappropriation of assets (defalcations) Procedures to assess fraud risks Discussion among engagement team Inquiries of management and other personnel Planning analytical procedures Considering fraud risk factors Incentives Opportunity Attitude

Assessing Fraud Risks—Identifying Fraud Risks Considerations in identifying fraud risks Type Significance Likelihood that it will result in a material misstatement Pervasiveness

Responding to Fraud Risks Overall response Professional skepticism and audit evidence Assigning personnel and supervision Accounting principles Predictability of auditing procedures Alterations in audit procedures More reliable evidence Shifting timing to year end Increasing sample sizes Response to the possibility of management override Examining journal entries Review accounting estimates for biases Evaluating the business rationale for significant unusual transactions

Consideration of Fraud Throughout the Audit Evaluating the results of audit tests Discovery of fraud Communication to appropriate level of management If fraud involves senior management or material misstatement communicate to audit committee

Objectives of Substantive Programs for Asset Accounts Establish the existence of assets Establish that the company has rights to the assets Establish the completeness of recorded assets Determine the appropriate valuation of the assets Establish the clerical accuracy of the underlying records Determine the appropriate financial statement presentation and disclosure of the assets 4 7

Direction of Audit Testing Finish Start Test for Existence Source Documents Journals Ledgers Test for Completeness Start Finish 5 8

The Audit Process Obtain an understanding of the client and its environment, including internal control Identify and assess inherent risks of material misstatement, including fraud risks Determine the planned assessed level of control risk and design additional tests of controls and planned substantive tests Perform additional tests of controls Reassess control risk and modify planned substantive tests Perform substantive tests and complete the audit Form an opinion and issue the audit report 9